Iran Raps Saudi, Bahraini Backing for US Oil Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry took a swipe at Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for welcoming the US decision to end waivers for importers of Iranian oil, saying they are unaware of the consequences of such a move.
In a statement on Thursday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi condemned the stances adopted by Riyadh and Manama in support of the US sanctions on Iran, saying it reveals the two Arab states’ “blind obedience to the US and their ignorance of the consequences” of Washington’s decision.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow any country to replace it in the oil market, and holds the US and the aforesaid countries (Saudi Arabia and Bahrain) accountable for all consequences,” he added.
“The Iranian government and nation will never forget the enmity from certain countries in such a historic juncture,” Mousavi underlined.
His comments came after Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf voiced the kingdom’s full support for the US decision to halt waivers for the customers of Iranian oil, saying Riyadh will continue efforts “to stabilize the oil market at all times by coordinating with other oil producers in order to ensure that sufficient supplies of oil are available to consumers.”
Bahrain has also followed the Saudi footsteps in backing the US move, saying it was “necessary and important, which will support and strengthen efforts drying up the sources of terrorism and address the dangerous role Iran plays in destabilizing security and stability."
Elsewhere in the statement, the Iranian spokesperson denounced the recent mass execution of 37 Saudi citizens as a kind of move like those taken in “pre-Islam ignorance”, calling for the international community’s response to such “maniacal measures”.
He warned that the Saudi regime is pursuing the policy of fomenting seditions in the region under the aegis of the US government, and cautioned the regional countries against the dire consequences of such seditious policies.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry said it executed 37 people, mostly Shiites, in connection with “terrorism” crimes.
So far this year, at least 104 people have been executed by Saudi Arabia – at least 44 of them are foreign nationals, the majority of whom were convicted of drug-related crimes. In 2018, Saudi Arabia carried out 149 executions.
